“There is no more,” said Noie, “for the leaves of yonder tree are deadly poison, and here grows no other living thing. Still, eat and live on, for I wait a message.” “A message from whom?” asked Rachel. “A message from the dead, Sister. It was promised to me by Nya before she passed, and if it does not come, then it will be time to die.” So they made fire and boiled the moss till it was a horrible, sticky substance, which they swallowed as best they could, washing it down with gulps of water. Still it was food of a kind, and for a while stayed the gnawing, empty pains within them; only Noie ate but little, so that there might be more for the others. That night was even hotter than those that had gone before, and during the day which followed the place became like a hell. They crept into the cave and lay there gasping, while from without came loud cracking sounds, caused, as they thought, by the trees of the forest splitting in the heat. About midday the sky suddenly became densely overcast, although no breath stirred; the air was thicker than ever, to breathe it was like breathing hot cream. In their restless despair they wandered out of the cave, and to their surprise saw a dwarf standing upon the top of the wall. It was Eddo, who called to them to come out and give themselves up. “What are the terms?” asked Noie. “That thou and the Wanderer shall die by the White Death, and that the Inkosazana shall be installed Mother of the Trees,” was the answer. “We refuse them,” said Noie. “Let us go now and give us food and escort, and thou shall be spared. Refuse, and it is thou and thy people who will die by that Red Death which Nya promised thee.” “That we shall learn before to-morrow,” said Eddo with a mocking laugh, and vanished down the wall. As he went a hot gust of wind burst upon them, causing the forest without to rock and groan. Noie turned her face towards it and seemed to listen. “What is it?” asked Rachel. “I heard a voice in the wind, Sister,” she answered. “The message I awaited has come to me.” “What message?” asked Richard listlessly. “That I will tell you by and by, Chief,” she answered. “Come to the cave, it is no longer safe here, the hurricane breaks.” So supporting each other they crept back to the cave, and there Noie made fire, feeding it with the idols and precious woods that had been brought thither as offerings. Richard and Rachel watched her wondering, for it seemed strange that she should make a fire in that heat where there was nothing to cook. Meanwhile gust succeeded gust, until a tempest of screaming wind swept over them, though no rain fell. Soon it was so fierce that the deep-rooted Tree of the Tribe rocked above them, and loose stones were blown from the crest of the great wall.